Leongatha

Leongatha
Victoria

Leongatha, looking east (1906)

Population:

4818 (2006 Census)

Postcode:

3953

Elevation:

88 m (289 ft)

Location:

135 km (84 mi) SE of Melbourne
59 km (37 mi) SW of Morwell
39 km (24 mi) NW of Wonthaggi

LGA:

South Gippsland Shire

State District:

Gippsland South

Federal Division:

McMillan

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Annual Rainfall
19.0 °C ^{66 °F}	8.4 °C ^{47 °F}	972.2 mm ^{38.3 in}

Leongatha is a town in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsland Shire, Victoria, Australia, located 135 kilometres (84 mi) south-east of Melbourne. The town is the commercial, religious, educational and civic centre of the region. At the 2006 census, Leongatha had a population of 4818.

The Murray-Goulburn Dairy Co-operative, which trades under the Devondale label, has a processing plant just north of the town producing milk-based products for Australian and overseas markets. It is also the largest milk factory in the southern hemisphere.

1 History
2 Transport
3 Tourism
4 Community
5 See also
6 References

History

First settlement of the area by Europeans occurred in 1845. The Post Office opened as Koorooman on 1 October 1887 and renamed Leongatha in 1891 when a township was established on the arrival of the railway. ¹

The railway line from Melbourne reached the town in 1891,² and stimulated further settlement. Regular V/Line passenger operations on the line to the local railway station ceased in 1993.³

Transport

The town is located on the South Gippsland Highway which links Leongatha to Melbourne. A V/Line road coach service replaced the rail service, running between Melbourne and Yarram. A second service runs from Traralgon to Wonthaggi.⁴ The Leongatha Airport is located outside the town and serves general aviation.

Tourism

The Daffodil Festival is held annually in September.
The South Gippsland Railway runs historical diesel locomotives and railcars between Nyora and Leongatha, passing through Korumburra.
The railway line from Leongatha to Foster has been converted into the Great Southern Rail Trail, for the shared use of horse riding, walking and cycling.

Community

The town has an Australian Rules football team, "The Parrots" competing in the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League, in Gippslands top level football league

References

^ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country=, retrieved on 11 April 2008
^ Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): pages 71-76.
^ Chris Banger (March 1997). "Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): pages 77–82.
^ "V/Line Timetable Search". www.vline.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.

Coordinates: 38°29′S 145°57′E / -38.483, 145.95

v • d • e Towns in the South Gippsland Shire

Agnes • Bena • Boolarra • Buffalo • Dumbalk • Fish Creek • Foster • Kongwak • Koonwarra • Korumburra • Leongatha • Loch • Meeniyan • Mirboo North • Nyora • Poowong • Port Franklin • Port Welshpool • Sandy Point • Stony Creek • Tarwin Lower • Toora • Venus Bay • Walkerville • Waratah Bay • Welshpool • Yanakie •

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